It’s now become a tradition on this blog that I share photos of my beloved London every season, as a form of my personal diary, but also to share this beautiful city with others, living far away. This time, I’m going to extend this post with photos from other parts of England too, since I’ve been travelling a lot recently and spent more time this autumn outside of London than in. So, let me take you on yet another photo journey through London, and other English regions.
First signs of autumn in Victoria Park
Let’s start with the same photo that concluded my photo blog from London summer 2024 – the yellow trees in Victoria Park in East London. These trees are the first to turn yellow every year, when the weather is still more resemblant of summer. The photo below was taken in late September, and I couldn’t believe that autumn was just around the corner.
holland park
A few weeks later, on the first weekend in November, I visited Holland Park – one of my favourite parks in London, and a bit of a hidden gem – well known amongst the locals, but not so famous with the tourists. This park is home to the Kyoto Garden, a Japanese style garden with a lovely pond and a small waterfall. The colourful trees made this garden even more beautiful than it normally is, and I was amazed.
Hyde Park
I also went on a walk to Hyde Park, but the day was sunny and most of the trees were still lush and green. I could just about see some signs of autumn, but they were still subtle.
And speaking of Hyde Park and its neighbourhood, this autumn I finally had a chance to see the Royal Albert Hall. I went to a concert of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and really enjoyed it. I don’t normally listen to classical music, but for a rare experience, it was great. Plus, the Royal Albert Hall is stunning, and it was fantastic to be able to visit it and sit in the audience, after seeing this spectacular venue on TV so many times.
London wildlife in the autumn
London parks are full of wildlife, and I love it. Some of the cutest animals, easily found in every park, are the grey squirrels. They’re so used to being fed nuts that instead of running away upon seeing a human, they’ll observe you curiously, to check if you happen to be bringing treats. I didn’t have any treats with me that time, but I enjoyed taking these photos. The squirrels look so cute with the autumnal leaves in the background!
In Holland Park, I saw one of the resident peacocks, proudly sitting in an area inaccessible to park visitors.
London parks are also full of green parakeets. There was a large group of them sitting on this Indian conker tree, feasting on the seeds. It was a bit of a trap too – the parakeets weren’t particularly careful with their food and conkers were hailing from the tree. Watch your heads, folks!
Bonfire Night
Naturally, I can’t not mention Bonfire Night. Celebrated on November 5th (but practically, on the weekend closest to the 5th), it’s always a blast – quite literally! There are numerous fireworks displays taking place all around London and the rest of the country. I had a chance to go to the Alexandra Palace Fireworks and the Battersea Park Fireworks. You can read about them here!
Home sweet home – Stratford – Olympic Park, West Ham Park
Let’s have a look at autumn in the parks closest to where I live. The Olympic Park in Stratford has a wide variety of trees, many of which turn bright red or yellow in October. The row of trees growing along the bank of River Lea was particularly stunning, with a gradient of colours and a carpet of fallen leaves on the ground.
I also loved this spot in West Ham Park. There’s nothing more autumnal than looking around and only seeing yellow-orange trees everywhere.
Ever After Garden at Grovesnor Square
This year, I finally had a chance to visit the Ever After Garden at Grovesnor Square in London. I heard about it last year but then forgot about it, and missed the opportunity. The garden is a charity initiative aimed to raise funds and remember the lost loved ones through over 30 thousand illuminated, artificial white roses. In 2024, the Garden is open from November 14th to December 18th.
Autumn in Lake District
At the start of October, I had a chance to visit Lake District. You can read about that trip here! This national park, located in the north of England, was already boasting autumnal views. One of my favourite parts of the trip was a short hike around Rydal. So beautiful!
November in Canterbury
Mid-November, I visited Canterbury. A city famous for the cathedral, located in the south-east of England. Autumn was already slowly making way for winter, but there were still some late autumnal views left. I particularly liked this small tree in front of the Canterbury Cathedral, with fiery orange leaves.
November in Folkestone
I also had a chance to visit Folkestone in November, a charming seaside town in Kent, near Dover. It’s one of my favourite places to go on a day trip from London. For example, I went on a few hikes starting in Folkestone in the past – you can read about it here. This time, I only walked around Folkestone itself. Walking by the beach, you could just about see the yellow tones on the bushes along the pavement.
Final thoughts
Autumn is one of the most beautiful seasons, and although I’m always sad that summer had ended, I can appreciate the vivid colours adorning the parks. I always like to share the beauty of London and England with others, and I hope you enjoyed this little photo journey! And if you did – make sure to check back in a few weeks, when I’ll take you around the London Christmas markets. You don’t want to miss that!
Also see:
Alphe's Corner 